Medtronic Expands Merit Medical Systems Partnership for Kyphon KyphoFlex

Medtronic had partnered with Merit Medical Systems, to offer a unipedicular, steerable balloon catheter for treating vertebral compression fractures (VCF) in the US. This agreement expands upon Medtronic and Merit’s current partnership, with Merit supplying Medtronic’s Kyphon Xpander Inflation Syringes used in balloon kyphoplasty procedures.
 
Per the agreement, Medtronic will be responsible for all sales, marketing, and distribution of the Kyphon KyphoFlex unipedicular balloon catheter. Merit will be responsible for the manufacturing, quality, and safety controls, regulatory activities, and life-cycle management.
 
“We are thrilled to be teaming up with Merit Medical Systems as we look to bring additional choice and flexibility to our interventional therapies portfolio,” said David Carr, vice president and general manager, of Pain Interventions within the Neuromodulation business, which is part of the Neuroscience Portfolio at Medtronic.
 
The Kyphon KyphoFlex is designed for controlled, precise, targeted cavity creation in vertebral augmentation procedures. The unipedicular solution will complement Medtronic’s current bipedicular balloon kyphoplasty solution, giving clinicians added flexibility and choice.
 
Kyphon Kyphoflex is a steerable, curved catheter that allows modified trajectory once inside the vertebra, for optimal targeting.¹
 
“We appreciate the confidence that Medtronic has in Merit’s technology. While we continue to deliver the ARCADIA™ Steerable portfolio to our physician customers and their patients, this latest effort will help deliver innovative steerable therapies to improve the lives of even more patients,” said Joe Wright, President, of Merit Medical Systems.
 
“Merit has always sought longstanding relationships with our customers, and our partnership with Medtronic goes back many years,” said Mike Blackham, Executive Vice President and OEM, of Merit Medical. “We are pleased to use our operational expertise to deliver exceptional technology on their behalf.”

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